A 'fully extruded' internal combustion engine

Manufacturing an internal combustion engine from extruded aluminum alloy rather than conventional casting offers many benefits, including big size and cost savings. So says Power Beat International Ltd., a research and development company based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Powerbeat's ALU-X(TM) engine employs interlocking sectioned extruded profiles to form the engine block. Replacing one-piece cast blocks, the company claims, allows engines of different capacities, cylinder numbers, and stroke lengths to be made from the same parts. Engine assembly is quick and easy: Tie bolts hold stressed components in compression, eliminating the need for load bearing threaded holes within the block; tee slots incorporated into the extrusion profile allow simple attachment of auxiliary components. Other benefits include superior grain structure for accurate bores and finishes; lower capital costs, higher production capacity; high power-to-weight ratio. Power Beat International is currently developing 200-cc versions of the ALU-X to suit the small engine market. Contact Evan Bydder at ebydder@powerbeat.com or call +64-7-843-0011.

It won't be too much longer and hardware design, as we used to know it, will be remembered alongside the slide rule and the Karnaugh map. You will need to move beyond those familiar bits and bytes into the new world of software centric design.

People who want to take advantage of solar energy in their homes no longer need to install a bolt-on solar-panel system atop their houses -- they can integrate solar-energy-harvesting shingles directing into an existing or new roof instead.

Kaspersky Labs indicated at its February meeting that cyber attacks are far more sophisticated than previous thought. It turns out even air-gapping (disconnecting computers from the Internet to protect against cyber intrusion) isn’t a foolproof way to avoid getting hacked. And Kaspersky implied the NSA is the smartest attacker.

Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.